FOUNTAIN, Colo.—An anti-bullying campaign that requires students to take turns being shunned is causing controversy at a Fountain public school.

Principal Anne Shearer-Shineman said singling out 4th through 6th graders at James Madison Charter Academy will help stop bullying by giving students a taste of what it feels like to be harassed.

However, one mother said shunning another student is not the same as bullying, and the campaign does not send the right message that real bullies should not be tolerated.

Johanna Myers said school officials put a sticker on students’ collars as a signal for everyone else to shun them.

Her son, Mark, got a sticker the very first day. His mom was furious when she found out what was happening.

She said her son is constantly bullied and she would like to see the school to do something about it, but not like this.

“They’ve got a good heart behind it, it’s just being approached in a very misguided way,” said Myers.

Her son said it was tough being the target of the new campaign.

“I wasn’t allowed to talk with anyone. I wasn’t allowed to play with anyone,” said Mark, who is a 4th grader at the school. “They said we had to do it because to show other kids what it’s like to be bullied.”

The principal said she hopes by the end of the week, everyone will be nicer, KKTV-TV reported Wednesday (http://tinyurl.com/phfq2ye).

The principal said there were strict rules in place during the campaign. Students were not allowed to tease or be mean to their classmates wearing stickers.

Almost every student was required to take part and a discussion was being held about what students learned.